The FAA says it will cut thousands of daily flights starting this week because of the shutdown. Here is the list of airports where flights will be reduced

The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce flight capacity by 10% at 40 major airports across the country, officials announced during a news conference Wednesday.

The decision could cut thousands of flights per day.

The restrictions will go into effect Friday morning, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

ABC News obtained the list of airports, which includes Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, Boston Logan, all three New York City area airports, Chicago O’Hare and many others. Sources said the cuts could begin as early as Thursday. (See full list of airports below)

A source told ABC News that flight reductions will start at 4% on Friday and increase by up to 10%. The flights affected by these reductions are scheduled between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Planes pass through the control tower before taking off at Nashville International Airport, Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.
George Walker Iv/AP, FILE

International flights are exempt from the cuts, the source said, adding that a final list of airports and the FAA order with details are still in the works and are expected to be issued Thursday.

“Our only role is to keep this airspace as safe as possible. Reducing capacity at 40 of our locations. This is not based on light airline travel locations. This is about where the pressure is and how to actually divert it,” Bedford said during Wednesday’s press conference.

The announcement comes after Duffy said earlier this week that the FAA will be forced to close airspace in some areas if the closure continues into next week.

United Airlines issued a statement about the reduction, saying long-haul and hub-to-hub international flights will not be affected.

The airline said customers seeking a refund on any flight can get one, even if they fly in basic economy or on a non-refundable ticket. The company will use its app as well as email and push notifications to update customers, according to the release.

The upcoming capacity reduction marks an unprecedented action by the FAA and the Department of Transportation. Bedford said he had never seen this happen before in his 35-year career.

Both Bedford and Duffy emphasized that the decision to reduce flights is a proactive measure based on data the department has reviewed and staffing pressures that are expected to increase during the closure. Duffy said the action is being taken to “reduce the risk profile in national airspace.”

Echoing him. Bedford added: “We’re not going to wait for a security issue to actually manifest itself when early indicators tell us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating. So the system is extremely secure today and will be extremely secure tomorrow.”

Bedford said cuts to each airline’s flight schedules will be proportional, adding that the agency recognizes “there is no perfect solution.”

The FAA said it will consider several factors when finalizing the cuts, including airlines that already operate less daily service at an airport.

Airlines for America, a trade association that represents many of the major US airlines issued a statement after the announcement, saying: “We are working with the federal government to understand all the details of the new reduction mandate and will strive to mitigate impacts for passengers and carriers.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told ABC News that President Donald Trump is aware of the FAA restrictions.